The 2023 National Rowing Championships (NRC) held on September 28-30 on Quamichan Lake, British Columbia once again demonstrated Alberta’s prominence within the sport of rowing. Consider the following:
- 39 Alberta athletes attended the event – the largest Alberta presence in the history of the regatta – (32 athletes represented Alberta at the 2022 NRC Event)
- Alberta athletes returned home with 9 medals, more than every province but for Ontario and British Columbia
- The 9 medals equalled Alberta’s best showing at an NRC event (2021 Alberta won 9 medals). Incredibly impressive when we consider the fact that this NRC event was in the lead up to the 2024 Olympic Summer Games with a number of athletes vying for spots at the Olympic selection camp.
- Alberta had 9 different athletes row in an “A” final. It wasn’t too long ago when there wasn’t a single Alberta athlete in an “A” or “B” Final at the NRC regatta.
- Four athletes represented Alberta in the final of the Men’s pair event
- Alberta won medals in every able body discipline (Men /Women) sweep and sculling events.
- Alberta athletes won a record 4 gold medals at this year’s event.
NRC Medal Winners are as follows
Gold
Robert Davis – Junior Men’s 1x
Karissa Riley – U23 Lightweight Women’s 1x
Axel Ewashko (Composite Crew with Row NS)– U23 Men’s Pair
Chelsea Donelon – PR2 Women’s Single
Silver
Griffen Salmon – Junior Men’s 1x
Hayley Buchanan / Madeline Bartek – Junior Women’s Pair
Bob Bryden (composite crew with Kingston Rowing Club ) – U23 Men’s Pair
Karissa Riley – Lightweight Women’s 1x
Bronze
Andrew Hubbard – U23 Men’s Single
In summary an incredible achievement by Team Alberta. Congratulations to all athletes who participated.
2023 Pan-American Games
Olivia McMurray, Shaye de Paiva and Kendra Hartley have been selected to represent Canada at the 2023 Pan-American Games in Santiago Chile from October 20 through to November 5, 2023. The Pan American Games have been an important event for Canadian rowers over the years. At Lima 2019, Team Canada won three medals, including two gold. The Santiago 2023 team heads into the Games next month with high expectations. Congratulations to each of you!
2024 Olympic Games
As noted in our August report, three Alberta athletes were nominated to represent Canada at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade Serbia. Two of those athletes Jessica Sevick and Kasia Gruchalla Wesierski were members of a Women’s 8+ that qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Not to be forgotten Curtis Ames and the Canadian Men’s 8+ Team finished in 8th place but still have a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics through a last chance qualifier next summer in Lucerne Switzerland.
Rowing Tidbits
- RADAR Reminder. A reminder to all ARA athletes who wish to be considered for the Provincial Carding Program must complete the battery of tests that are part of the September – November RADAR Program. These tests are for clarity a 2K Erg, and a 6K erg. Only tests monitored by a certified coach pulled between September 1, 2023 and November 30, 2023 will be considered.
- The last chance qualifier that was spoken of earlier in this report is more commonly known in rowing circles as the regatta of death. This video provides an interesting look at the pressures associated with the event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlapnKcijnc
- While the weather failed to cooperate, it was great to see five Alberta clubs participating at the 2023 Dino Sprint Regatta on September 23rd in Calgary, Alberta.